Article from Mount Druitt-St Marys Standard (at the end of it my thoughts):
INCENTIVES FOR COUNCILS THAT VOLUNTARILY AMALGAMATE
PREMIER Mike Baird has offered councils financial incentives to amalgamate.
To try to convince reluctant councils to merge, the State Government has put $153 million in incentives on the table.
In what is likely to be a “carrot before the stick” approach, councils have until June 30 next year to voluntarily propose merger options.
Local Government Minister Paul Toole said the Government had “outlined a range of incentives both in terms of infrastructure and assistance with merging to provide better services to their communities”.
“Councils losing a million dollars a day is unacceptable,” Mr Toole said.
A Penrith Council spokesman said the Independent Local Government Review Panel this year recognised the importance of Penrith as a regional city.
“However, the report recommended that regional and subregional alliances should be looked into,” the spokesman said.
“Council has had preliminary discussions with Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury councils about working more closely together.”
Blacktown Council did not provide comment on the issue before deadline.
Mr Baird did not name which of Sydney’s 40 councils were earmarked for amalgamation.
The Government hopes the reforms will net $100 million in savings by cutting red tape and duplication in the 152 NSW councils.
Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber, David Borger, said mergers were the best chance for Sydney to manage growth and development.
My thoughts are not what the current NSW Premier or Western Sydney director of Sydney Business Chamber asking for within Blacktown to do, which is the highest populated Council with Australia, currently as of 30th June 2014, is 325,185. I do understand that General Manger's are remunnerated at a reasonable income, maybe paid higher than the Prime Minister and/or Premier. I feel in Blacktown the GM should be paid $2 per population per annum.
Before looking at increasing Blacktown City Council boundaries with other Council boundaries, we need to focus on the inner city and north shore councils, where there are currently 4 to 5 times the amount of Councillors representatives looking after the similar population that Blacktown has. This in effect places more pressure for Blacktown Councillors to work for their wider communities (and therefor may be under paid).
My first suggestion of merging or amalgamation Councils would be as follows:
1st Merges:
Woollahra population estimate ABS 2011 57,677
Randwick population estimate 30/6/14 142,310
Botany population estimate ABS 2011 39,355
Waverley population estimate 30/6/2013 63,487
Total: 302,829
Sydney City population estimate 30/6/2013 191,928
2nd Merges:
Lane Cove population estimate ABS 2011 31,510
Mosman population estomate 30/6/2014 29,983
Manly population estimate ABS 2011 39,747
Waringah population estimate ABS 2011 140,741
Willoughby population estimate 30/6/2014 73,155
Total 315,136
Both Merges would still be under the current Blacktown City population and in Merger 1 population can be moved from Sydney of Sydney to make the difference, for example.
Now if the Premier of NSW can start off with this, then Mount Druitt area - part of Blacktown City Council, will be safe from merging or amalgamation!
I think I would have a majority support from all Blacktown City Councillors and community members from all over Mount Druitt and Blacktown Local Government Area.
With larger Councils some areas of the communities can be forgotten or even neglected, especially not well represented! So my strong answer is 'No'!
“Council has had preliminary discussions with Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury councils about working more closely together.”
Blacktown Council did not provide comment on the issue before deadline.
Mr Baird did not name which of Sydney’s 40 councils were earmarked for amalgamation.
The Government hopes the reforms will net $100 million in savings by cutting red tape and duplication in the 152 NSW councils.
Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber, David Borger, said mergers were the best chance for Sydney to manage growth and development.
My thoughts are not what the current NSW Premier or Western Sydney director of Sydney Business Chamber asking for within Blacktown to do, which is the highest populated Council with Australia, currently as of 30th June 2014, is 325,185. I do understand that General Manger's are remunnerated at a reasonable income, maybe paid higher than the Prime Minister and/or Premier. I feel in Blacktown the GM should be paid $2 per population per annum.
Before looking at increasing Blacktown City Council boundaries with other Council boundaries, we need to focus on the inner city and north shore councils, where there are currently 4 to 5 times the amount of Councillors representatives looking after the similar population that Blacktown has. This in effect places more pressure for Blacktown Councillors to work for their wider communities (and therefor may be under paid).
My first suggestion of merging or amalgamation Councils would be as follows:
1st Merges:
Woollahra population estimate ABS 2011 57,677
Randwick population estimate 30/6/14 142,310
Botany population estimate ABS 2011 39,355
Waverley population estimate 30/6/2013 63,487
Total: 302,829
Sydney City population estimate 30/6/2013 191,928
2nd Merges:
Lane Cove population estimate ABS 2011 31,510
Mosman population estomate 30/6/2014 29,983
Manly population estimate ABS 2011 39,747
Waringah population estimate ABS 2011 140,741
Willoughby population estimate 30/6/2014 73,155
Total 315,136
Both Merges would still be under the current Blacktown City population and in Merger 1 population can be moved from Sydney of Sydney to make the difference, for example.
Now if the Premier of NSW can start off with this, then Mount Druitt area - part of Blacktown City Council, will be safe from merging or amalgamation!
I think I would have a majority support from all Blacktown City Councillors and community members from all over Mount Druitt and Blacktown Local Government Area.
With larger Councils some areas of the communities can be forgotten or even neglected, especially not well represented! So my strong answer is 'No'!
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